Spellbinders Block Print Zodiacs: Hot Foiling & BetterPress Birthday Cards

Hello and welcome. I’m Gaylynn Martling, a lover of card making. It is an honor to share my creations with you here on the Spellbinders blog. I enjoy the fun technique possibilities using amazing plates, dies, stamps and fabulous machines. For today, I share three cards using both hot foiling and Betterpress inks. Some of my favorite things to make are birthday cards. The Block Print Zodiacs Collection provides the most unique and unexpected birthday greetings, customized to each person. What I like most about each set is the ability to add hot foil shimmer or colorful ink. For today’s trio of projects, I am sharing process photos for each card as well as the finished card. We will be using the press & foil plates as well as the corresponding registration guides, which are included with each zodiac set. First up is the Leo card project. Here is the finished Leo greeting card. I love how rich the copper hot foil looks over the Cosmic Sky cardstock. It shimmers so beautifully in person. I decided to use the exact press layout as the registration guide. Everything aligned perfectly to begin foiling the Leo and the sentiments all at once.

• To begin, make a photocopy of the Leo and Aquarius acetate guides to be used with the Glimmer Hot Foil System.
• Simply, trim the copy leaving space around the edges, then temporarily adhere the registration copy of Block Print Leo onto the preheated Glimmer Hot Foil system, using Best Ever Craft Tape.
• Add repositionable tape onto the back of the Leo and sentiment plates.
• Temporarily place and adhere the plates over the registration guide copy, design side up.
• Cover the Block Print Leo and the sentiment using copper hot foil (pretty side facing the plate design).
• Place an oversized layer of Cosmic Sky Colorwheel Cardstock over the foil and tape it down.
• Sandwich and run the Glimmer stack through the Platinum or Platinum SIX die-cutting machine (or compatible machine and plates). I used one shim with my foiling examples using the Platinum die-cutting machine.

TIP: Prevent plates from moving around when running through the die-cutting machine and when transferring the Glimmer sandwich. Keep them in place by adding repositionable adhesive onto the back side of the press and foil plates. Then wipe away the adhesive after the project is complete. Another option is to add a bit of the Best Ever Craft Tape over the plate if there are open areas to tape.

Peek at the Leo card process. Next, repeat the process using the Block Print Aquarius press and foil set, Violet Colorwheel Cardstock, and polished brass hot foil. Of course, the plates and colors can be changed to your preferences. Try to use colors that complement each other for the background frame layers. This example is another dark cardstock choice for hot foiling. Here is a look at the finished Aquarius card project.

TIP: If you find there is over foiling, prepare the cardstock with an antistatic pouch or powder before hot foiling. Other solutions: Hot foil onto a larger cardstock piece and trim later. Trim down your hot foil film to fit closer to the plate. Play with your sandwich with and without a shim. Smooth cardstock works lovely. I used Colorwheel cardstock in these two hot foil examples. Additionally, if you get extra foil on the corners or edges, die-cut or trim down the focal panel instead of refoiling.

Additionally, we are going to create with the Betterpress Letterpress System using the press & foil plate Block Print Pisces. I wanted a variegated color look to the Pisces, and ink made that possible. Here is the Pisces finished card using Betterpress ink pads.

• This time, instead of hot foil, grab your favorite Betterpress or dye ink pads plus small blending brushes for color options.
• Then, place the Pisces acetate registration guide face up directly onto the Betterpress Letterpress platform.
• Add a touch of repositionable tape onto the back of the Pisces plate and sentiments to hold the plates in place.
• Place and align the Pisces press and foil plate, face up, over the included acetate guide.
• Add Betterpress ink colors to the plate using both direct ink pad to plate and also using blending brushes.
• Use ink pad colors from Desert Sunset Betterpress Ink Set and Happy Betterpress Ink Set. Or choose your own favorite colors.
• Die-cut the frame layers for each card project.
• Adhere the layers using foam and flat double-sided adhesive or glue.

Lastly, here is the final process photo showing Pisces. I hope you enjoyed the three-card project. These cards were so much fun to make. Have fun crafting, and don’t forget to send out your cards to friends, family, and coworkers. It has been a pleasure being here with you. Thank you so much for visiting here on the Spellbinders blog. I invite you back here for endless inspiration. It would be extra special if you would reach out to me on socials when you create and share something inspired by today’s projects. It would be great to see what you create so that I can give back the love. You can find and follow me at NeatThings on Facebook, @neatnook on Instagram, YouTube, and my Blog for crafty projects. One last thing. Tell us in the comments which of the Block Print Zodiacs would you gravitate to and why. I personally would love to collect them all for year-round, unique greetings. Best wishes and happy crafting, Gaylynn Martling

Other supplies

EZ Runner Repositionable Tape